All posts by Colin Mansfield

About Colin Mansfield

I'm a college student born in Boise, Idaho who loves coffee. BoiseCoffee.org was birthed out of a desire to share my passion for coffee with others through reviews and tips. It has since evolved into a discussion of like-minded individuals. We all seek to make the world a better place through our unique talents and goals. Coffee can help.

BoiseCoffee is back!

Update,

After a long silence, I am happy to announce the return of BoiseCoffee!

Why such the long silence you might ask? My life has taken some interesting twists and turns since last June that have landed me at school on the east coast. It was with great sadness that I let this blog slip through my fingers little by little as my attention turned towards “important things.” Yet, with each late night cup of coffee, I though back to the good ol’ days of reviewing Moxie Java and Rembrandt’s. Ok, ok, maybe those days weren’t that long ago.

All the same BoiseCoffee is back folks, and better than ever!

After some thought, I’ve decided to keep the name of the blog the same, as Boise forever will be a key element in, and basis for my writing. It’s where I learned to love coffee, and is the very reason I started this blog in the first place. That being said, I’m looking at expanding the focus of BoiseCoffee. This will be done, first and foremost, using social media. This blog will be the key outlet where I will post reviews and opinion pieces, however my goal is to turn this blog into a community of people who want to share their favorite coffee places, drinks, and methods. I want this to be less about me sharing my ideas, and more about you sharing yours, and us discussing them. I will continue to post reviews and thoughts here on the blog. In addition, please follow BoiseCoffee on twitter, and like our new page on facebook. I want to hear your thoughts and comments – please share them!

Finally, I am bringing some new friends in as writers on this blog. Both are living in Boise at this time, and my hope is that they will be great contributors. What coffee shops would you like to see reviewed? Shoot us an email at BoiseCoffee@gmail.com and let us know.

Thanks and I look forward to our discussions!

The Coffee Guy

Related posts:

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Dutch Bros: The much anticipated review

Boise, Idaho,

Hello coffee fans!

First of all, I believe an apology is in order. Life has been more than busy for me as of late, and I’ve really slacked off on the blog. You can expect more frequent posts in the near future, as my schedule is beginning to wind down.

Now, on to the review!
From DutchBros.com:

Our commitment is to serve our customers a consistent quality product in a timely manner with a smile.

We roast all of our own coffee ensuring freshness from the farmer to the cup. We take great pride in the ingredients mixed into every cup – utilizing flavor profiles from Torani syrups, our own special blend of Dutch Chocolate milk and Kick Me Mix.

From Dutch Bros.’ wikipedia page:

Dutch Bros. was started in March 1992 by two brothers, Travis and Dane Boersma, former dairy farmers from Grants Pass, Oregon. Their first coffee stand was a temporary structure in downtown Grants Pass. Over the next few years, permanent kiosks opened in other parts of the city, including a coffeehouse a few blocks from the original stand.

I’ve always liked Dutch Bros. In the winter, I pick up a cup of Dutch on the way to snowboarding, and in the summer I enjoy their iced drinks on a hot day. If you’ve ever visited Dutch Bros., you know that they’re all about quality: both in product and in service. They prize themselves in their well-trained, friendly baristas. It also doesn’t hurt that they typically hire college-aged men and women who are pleasant on the eyes: Dutch baristas are all about using sex appeal to get a better tip.

Dutch Bros. has a great company structure, and friendly staff, but what about their coffee? Well, that is a little more tricky to do a review on, and here’s why:
Dutch Bros. coffee is heavy on the sugar. Every single one of the featured drinks on their menu (which was updated recently, by the way) is loaded with syrup and sauce, not to mention some of their best drinks are breve’s, or close. I’m not saying any of this to diss on Dutch Bros. In fact, this emphasis on sugar is perfect for their target customers:  high school and college-aged young men and women. Dutch Bros. has found their audience, and they are working that angle perfectly.

So, what about their actual espresso? Dutch Bros. isn’t just about sugar, although they put emphasis on that. You can order any drink you desire, just as you would at Starbucks (just please, for the love of God, don’t say “venti”. Any baristas that don’t work at Starbucks hate it when people use Starbucks’ sizes to order drinks.) I’ve had many classic drinks, such as their latte and brewed coffee. I’ve gone a little more complex a few times, asking for a doppio with cubano shots. And, to be honest, I’ve never been let down. I’m pleased to say that Dutch Bros. isn’t trying to cover up anything by using sugar: their coffee really is good. Although they won’t tell you what kind of roast they use (it’s a “Dutch secret”) I’ll give my best impression: they brew a medium roast coffee, probably using mixed beans, and their shots are pulled fast, which tend to make them far less acidic and bitter-tasting.

Go to Dutch Bros. if you haven’t yet. It’s an experience worth having, and a taste worth trying. Despite their emphasis on trendy clothing and sugar in coffee, they hold a special place in my heart as being a coffee franchise that really cares about their customers, product, and staff. That alone is enough for me to give Dutch Bros. a positive review.

What’s been your experience?

The Coffee Guy

Related posts:

Moxie Java: a love/hate story Boise Pour-Over Coffee Starbucks Drive ThruStarbucks is getting its Mojo Back